Link rod and method of making same



Jan. '7, 1941. V Q H HUFFERD 2,227,648

LINK ROD AND METHOD oF MAKINQSAME Filed Nov. 7, 19:58

Patented Jan. 7, 1941 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE LINK ROD AND METHOD F MAKING SAME Application November 7, 1938, Serial No. 239,230

8 Claims. (Cl. 29-152) This invention relates to connection members adapted to receive inserts therein and having integral portions for tightening the connecting member around an insert. The invention also includes a process of making such connection members from strips of metal.

More specifically, this invention relates to link rods, such as tie rods or the like, which are provided with integral clamping ears for contracting the rod around an insert. The invention specincally includes a process `of making such link rods from fiat strip steel stock by stamping and bending operations.

While the, invention will be hereinafter speciically described in connection with tie rods, it should be understood that the principles of the invention'are not limited to such use and that the process and product of the invention relate to the provision of connection members in general.

Tie rods have heretofore been prepared from seamless or butt-seam tubing. The ends of the rods have been internally threaded and longitudinally slotted. Separate clamping rings have been disposed around the ends of the rods for tightening or contracting the rods around the ,Shanks of tie rod `ioints that have been threaded into the rods.' 'l'hisconstruction is expensive,

requires many mechanical operations, and in-` volvesthe use of separate clamping rings not forming a direct part of the tie rods.

The present invention now provides for the manufacture' of tie rods and the like connection members by simple bending and stamping operations.- The members produced have integral clamping ears thereon that take the place ol' the heretofore necessary separate clamping rings.

According to this invention, the connection members are formed from iiat metal strips by compound dies which shape the clamping ear segments along the'sides of the strips,'punch out holes through the clamping ears, and turn up the sides of the strips to start the bending operation. The thus formed strips can then be readily bent around a mandrel into the form of rods, with the clamping ears depending from opposite sides of the rods in spaced opposed relation.

One of the features of the invention includes the formation of inturned ilanges around the peripheries of the clamping ears, which anges merge into and are integral with the body of the link rod. The flanges prevent flexing of the ears when the same are drawn toward each other by means of a clamping bolt so that the rod itself will be contracted around an inserted member Withoutbending the ears relative to the rod. The rod is slotted for a distance beyond the ears to facilitate contraction around an insert.

In one modification of the invention, the

w stampingdies cut away portions of the sides of y the strip so that the body of the resulting link rod will have a simple butt-seam.

In another modification of the invention. all of the strip stock is used along the edges and a flange isfformed therefrom 'to provide, along the body of the resulting link rod, a pair of contiguous laterally projecting reinforcing flange portions.

It is, then, an object of this invention to provide a connection member having integral dependent ears for contracting the member about an insert. Y

A further object of the invention is to form from flat metal strip stock a connection member having integral clamping ears.

A further object of the invention is to provide a connection member or link -rodhaving integral spaced opposed ear portions with inturned integral flanges therearound to resist flexing of the ears. l

A further object of the invention is to provide connection members or link rods from dat steel strips by stamping and bending operations.

A further object of the invention is to provide a tie rod having integral opposed clamping ears stiffened by inturned flanges and separated by slots extending from each side thereof, and adapted to cooperate with a clamping bolt for decreasing the Width of the slots to contract the rod.

Other and further objects of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description of the annexed sheet of drawings, which discloses preferred embodiments of the invention.

On the drawing:

Figure 1 is a broken side elevational view of a tie rod according to this invention having the shanks of tie rod joints threaded into the ends thereof and clamped therein by means of clamping bolts inserted through integral clamping ears provided on the rod;

Figure 2 is a broken plan view showing a stamping prepared from a flat strip of steel, illustrated in dotted lines, which stamping is bent .to form the rod shown in Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line III-III of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line IV-IV of Figure 1 with parts omitted and illustrating the bolt in dotted lines;

Figure ,5 is a cross sectional View taken along the line V-V of Figure 1;

Figure 6 is a cross sectional view taken along Figure 8 is a cross sectional' view taken along the line VIII-VIII of Figure 7;

Figure 9 is a vertical cross sectional view taken through a link rod prepared from the stamping shown in Figures 'I and 8;

Figure 10 is a vertical cross sectional View taken through a rod produced from the stamping shown in Figures 'I and 8 at a point along the length of the rod spaced from the clamping ears; and

Figure l1 is a cross sectional view taken along the line XI-IU of Figure 9.

As shown in the drawing:

The reference numeral I0, in Figure 1, designates a tie rod according to this invention. The tie rod I0 has open ends II and I2 which are internally threaded for a desired distance into the rod for receiving in threaded relation the externally threaded shanks I3 of tie rod joint housings such as I4. The joint housing I4 has astud I5projecting therefrom. The stud I5 is rotatable and tiltable in the housing I4.

The rod .I0 isprovided with pairs of integral clamping ears I6 and I'I near the ends II and I2 thereof. Each pair of ears I6 and I1 receive clamping bolts I8 and I3 respectively therethrough for contracting the threaded ends of the rod I0 around the shanks I3 to hold the shanks against rotation relative to the tie rod.

According to this invention, the tie rod I0 is formed from a iiat strip of metal designated by the reference numeral 20 in Figure 2. A stamping 2i is formed from the fiat strip 2U by compound trimming, forming, and punching dies (not shown). The sheet 20 is rst trimmed, as shown in dotted lines, alongl the sides thereof to define projecting ear segments Isa and |61) near one end of the strip and similar projecting ear segments I1a and I1b near the other end of A the strip. The central portion of the trimmed strip is wider than the portions adjacent the ear segments, so that the edgesr26 thereof project beyond the edges adjacent the ear segments, as shown in dotted lines. The segments I6a and ISb are transversely aligned on opposite side edges of the strip. Likewise, the ear segments I1a and I1b are transversely aligned on opposite side edges of the strip.

The strip 20 is punched to form a hole 22 through ear segment I6a, IBb, I1a and I1b.

The forming dies (not shown) turn up flanges 23 around the outer edges of the ear segments I6a, IBb, IIa and I1b and simultaneously turn up the body portion of the strip along the marginal sides thereof to form rounded portions 24 between the ear segments and also at the ends of the strip, as shown in Figures 2 and 3.

During this bending operation, the forming die` (not shown) holds back the ear segments to define at pockets 25 therein. These pockets 25, as best shown in Figure 2, extend inwardly from the projecting portion of the ear segments so that in the final link rod these pockets will be inV The stamping 2l is next bent around a cy1in drical mandrel to bring the projecting edges 26 of the turned-up portions 24 into contiguous re-4 lation, as shown in Figures 4, 5 and 6. A buttvseam is thus formed. However, since the edges 26 of the trimmed strip prior to bending extend beyond the edges of the strip adjacent the ear segments, the placing o! these edges 26 into contiguous relation will leave gaps or slots 21 be-.

tween the ears and extending for a distance on each side of the ears.

Thus, as best shown in Figures 4 and 6, the ear segments Ia and I6b withv their inturned flanges 23 are in spaced opposed relation, and the slot 21 extends beyond the ears on both sides. The lot 21 preferably extends to the adjacent end of the rod, as shown in Figure 6.

When a bolt such as the bolt Itis inserted through holes 22 of the ears and the nut lsb is tightened on the bolt, the ears can be drawn together to decrease the width of the slot 21 and thus contract thediameter of the rod IU at least for a distance along the length of the rod.

The ears are stiiened or reinforced by the inturned flanges 23, and since` these flanges are integral with and merge into the body of the rod I il, the ears will not ex or bend during the clamping operation.

The rod I0 can be internally threaded as shown at 26 in Flgure'4 for receiving an externally threaded shank such as I3, shown in Figure 1.

From the above description of Figures 1 to 6, it should be understood that the rod I0 is formed from a flat strip of metal by trimming, punching, stamping, and bending operations. The trimming, punching and stamping operations can be performed by compound dies in a single step. |Ihe bending operation of the stamping thus produced is readily performed around a shaping mandrel.

The link rod thus formed has great strength, and the integral ears are rigidly reinforced against bending relative to the body of the rod.

In the modification shown in Figures '7 to 10, inclusive, a trimming operation to remove portions of the initial atmetal strip is not used, and all of the metal of the original strip, except that punched out to form the holes through the ears, ispresent in the nal link rod.

As shown in Figure '1, a at strip of metal 30 is punched and stamped to form a stamping 3|. The stamping 3I is formed by punching holes 32 through the strip 30 at points where the clamping ears are to be formed. Dies (not shown) then hold the punched strip 'to form pockets 33 surrounding the holes 32, while the edges of the strip are turned upwardly tc form flanges 34 around the pockets 33. At the same time the side portions of the strip are turned upwardly to form curved side portions 35. The portions 35 are so curved as to start the forming of a tubu- A higher flanges 36 with 4the flanges 34. Likewise,

side walls 33a connect the bottoms of the pockets 33 with the flanges 34.

The stamping 3l thus formed its next bent around a cylindrical mandrel to form the rod 40 shown'in Figures 9, 10 and 11. As best shown in Figure 9, the pockets 33 are bordered by the side walls 33a, which merge with the iianges 3l. The flanges 34, in turn, merge into the flanges 36, being connected by the walls 36a.

Spaced opposed ears 31 are thus formed. These ears have aligned apertures 32 therethrough and can receive a clamping bolt such as I8, shown in Figure 4, to draw the flanges 34 toward each other for narrowing slots 39 formed between v these flanges.

The rod 40 will thus have depended anges 36 along the length thereof, which flanges are bowed outwardly and merge with the anges 3l that border the ears 31 and are connected to the ears through the side walls 33a. 'I'hese side Walls are actually inturned anges reinforcing the ears against exing. The ears 31 are thus stiiiened and reinforced by the integral bordering sidewalls 33a, the flanges 34,"and the contiguous flanges 36. The ears will. not flex or bend relative to the rod 40 and will serve to decrease the diameter of the rod for clamping the same around a threaded insert. The interior of the rod 40 can be threaded for a distance from the ends internally threaded ends, spaced opposed integral clamping ears near each of said ends depending laterally from the tube, inturned anges re-enforcing said ears against flexing and defining a slot therebetween and said ears being apertured for receiving a clamping member therethrough to draw the ears together for decreasing the size of the rod at points adjacent said ears.

2. The method of making a connection member adapted to be contracted around an insert which comprises providing a fiat strip of metal, bending into an arcuate-shape a portion along each side of the strip spaced inwardly from the side edges of the strip while holding aligned localized portions flat to thereby define aligned pockets bounded by side walls merging into iiat flanges extending from the arcuately bent por- `tions of the strip to the strip edges, bending aligned portions of such flat flanges to a higher level at a point spaced from the side walls, and bending the'fthus formed blank intov rod form with the aligned flange portions in contiguous relation, the remainder of the at flanges in spaced opposed relation, and the localized portions defining spaced opposed ears reinforced by the side walls.

3. A connection link having a slotted portion adapted to be contracted around an insert which comprises a hollow one-piece tube, spaced opposed integral apertured clamping ears depending laterally from the tube, said ears having side walls reinforcing the ears against flexing,`and said tube having a slot between said ears whereby a bolt and nut assembly is adapted to be extended through said apertured ears to draw the ears toward each other for decreasing the size o: the tube at points adaent said ears.

4. A sheet metal link rod having a slotted p0rtion` adapted to be contracted around an insert which comprises a hollow one-piece sheet metal tube having' an internally threaded slotted end portion, spaced opposed integral clamping ears depending laterally from the threaded end portion of the tube on each side of the slot therein, inturned flanges reinforcing said ears against. flexing, said ears being apertured for receiving a clamping member therethrough to draw the ears together for narrowing the slot and decreasing the size of the tube whereby an insert thread.-

ed into the threaded end of the tube will be locked 5. 'I'he method of making a sheet metal rod member adapted to be contracted around an insert which comprises stamping a portion along each side lof a strip of metal while holding localized opposed portions flat to define aligned pockets bounded by upturned side walls, and bending the thus formed blank into rod shape with the pockets depending from the rod in spaced opposed relation and with a slot between the pockets.

6. The method of making a connection link rod having integral laterally depending ears adapted to cooperate with a nut and bolt assembly for tightening the rod about an inserted member which comprises stamping a strip of metal to form transversely aligned pockets in opposite sides thereof deiin'ed by upstanding flanges around the outer peripheryof the pockets, stamping upturned side portions along the length of the strip on each side thereof merging into and integral with the inner ends of the flanges but extending above the anges, and bending the thus formed blank into rod shape to bring the upturned portions together while at the same time bringing the flanges into spaced opposed relation whereby the pockets form dependent aligned anged ears on each side of a slot.

7. 'Ihe method of making a connection link adapted to be contracted around an insert which comprises trimming a 'sheet of metal to form aligned ear segments on opposite sides thereof and aligned projecting side edges in spaced longitudinal relation from the ear segments, turning up flanges around the ear segments, bending the sides of the strip into curved shape While holding the ear segments flat, and bending the vthus formed blank around a mandrel to bring together the projecting side edges thereof to produce a butt-seamed tube with a localized longitudinally slotted portionand a flanged laterally depending integral lear on each side of the slot.

8. A connection link rod adapted to' be contracted around an insert comprising a sheet rnetal tube having dependent abutting flanges extending laterally therefrom along the length thereof and bowed outwardly along a localized portion thereof to define a slot therebetween, and a laterally depending flanged ear integral with each ange intermediate the ends of localized bowedout portions thereof, said ears being aligned on opposite sides of the slot and having apertures therethrough adapted for receiving a nut and bolt assembly to draw the ears together for decreasing the size of the slot to contract the tube around an insert, GEORGE H. HUFFERD. 

